Framing Class

Diana Kendall and I don't see eye to eye on everything she writes about in her essay on the framing of class in the media. I believe the social class exaggerations she talks a lot about at the beginning of her writing is what makes TV shows entertaining. If I wanted to watch something to learn or better understand a social problem I would more than likely watch a fact-based channel like PBS or National Geographic. I don't think the need for in-depth accuracy is quiet as necessary on a Friday night sitcom as it would be on the evening news. Although I do agree that some sitcoms and reality TV do have a negative affect on our culture's perceptions of social class. I do believe that the focus on celebrities and their life styles has gone a little over board. I think, in a small way, may contribute to the gotta have it world we live in.
I think that all the advertisements are fueling our consumer driven world as well, especially for children. Sometimes while I'm babysitting I will sit and watch TV with my nephews. Have you ever noticed all the adds geared towards children on the popular children's networks? Every commercial is a gotta have it toy, snack, game, or clothing brand and the commercials are on almost as long as the actual TV shows themselves. It makes me sick. Some of the commercials even ridicule parents. I think adults being bombarded with enticing advertisements is one thing but to be doing it to children is wrong. The sad part is that I didn't start to notice how many advertisements there were until I stopped watching television. It's like you become desensitized to it.
Another key point that Kendall makes is when she talks about the major news networks. There seems to be a focus only on events that networks think will bring in the most viewers. The coverage of the swine flu is a prime example. It was the same story over and over again. No details were given concerning the actual H1N1 virus, only bold words at the bottom of the screen saying "Possible Pandemic" and various news caster saying over and over again that people were going to die. The fact that millions die from influenza, or the common flu, every year was totally omitted. While other issues were almost totally ignored. Rarely are complex issues covered more than a few minutes, seconds even, leaving the viewer with some questions at best, but mostly uniformed. We really do need more civic journalism. Kendal quotes the Pew Center for Civic Journalism when describing civic journalism, "A belief that journalism is an obligation to the public life- an obligation that goes beyond just telling the news or unloading lots of facts". We need the news to be more engaging and informative and less about big rating stories.